An introduction to partial evaluation

Abstract

Partial evaluation provides a unifying paradigm for a broad spectrum of work in program optimization compiling interpretation and the generation of automatic program generators [Bjørner et al. 1987; Ershov 1992; and Jones et al. 1993]. It is a program optimization technique, perhaps better called program specialization , closely related to but different from Jørring and Scherlis' staging transformations [1986]. It emphasizes, in comparison with Burstall and Darlington [1977] and Jørring and Scherlis [1986] and other program transformation work, full automation and the generation of program generators as well as transforming single programs. Much partial evaluation work to date has concerned automatic compiler generation from an interpretive definition of programming language, but it also has important applications to scientific computing, logic programming, metaprogramming, and expert systems; some pointers are given later.